Runner gate operator



May 9, 1944- J. w. CARTER V|51- Al. 2,348,521

RUNNER GATE OPERATOR Filed July l5, 1943 INI/ENT ORS: Jay/v WMM/f 64,975@

and TU ,4A/H EN 60)./l By- ZM A Ylines Vin Figure 1.

Patented May 9, 1944 John Williami Carter an McKeesport, Pa., `assi Company, a corporation of New gnors to d Truman H. Kennedy,

National Tube Jersey Application July 13, 1943, Serial No. 494,538

(Cl. ZEG-38) l 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a runner gate operator for operating the gates in blast furnace cinder runners and the like. In use, these gates become frozen and are loosened by hammering. The workmen do this dilcult job under adverse conditions since the atmosphere in the vicinity of the gate is hot and filled with dust particles.

It is an object of the present invention t'o provide a simple mechanism for opening a runner gate.

Another object is to provide such a mechanism which can `be operated from a remote position.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to. the following specification and attached drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation taken on the line I--I of Figure 2; and

Figure 2 is a plan view of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the reference numeral 2 indicates a cinder runner having a slot 4 therein for receiving the gate 6 which controls the iiow of the slag through the runner. Attached to the .upper part of the gate 6 is a link 8 to which is connected one end of a chain or tension member I0. The other end of the chain is connected to an eye-bolt I2 which is connected to a lever I4 by means of a pin I 6. To one side of the runner is a support I8 to which is welded a bracket20. The lever I4 is pivotally mounted on a pin 22 supported by the bracket 20. The free end of the lever I4 carries a coun.- terweight 24 which is held in an elevated position by means of a latch 26 pivotally mounted on a pin 28 carried by the support I8. The lower part of the latch carries a catch 29 which is adaptedv to pass through a hole 30 in the support I8 to hold the lever I4 in its raised position.

The operation of the device is as follows:

' When the gate 5 is closed, the lever I4 is normally held in the elevated position shown in full The tensionmember I0 is of such a length that a substantial amount of slack ispresent when the lever I4 is in elevated position. To open the gate the operator by means of a long rod or other suitable device swings the lower end of the latch 26 away from the lever it. This releases the lever I4 and permits it to drop freely and gain enough momentum so that the gate 6 is snapped loose when the chain In becomes taut.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the attached claims.

We claim:

1. A runner gate operator comprising a tension member connected to said gate, said member normally being untensioned when said gate is closed, and means connected to said member for snapping said member taut to thereby loosen said gate.

2. A runner gate operator comprising a tension member connected to said gate, said member lnormallybeing untensioned when said gate is closed, a weight connected to said member, means for holding said weight in an elevated position. and means for releasing said irst named means to. permit said weight to drop and thereby snap said gate loose.

3. A runner gate operator comprising a tension member connected to said gate, said member normally. being untensioned when said gate is closed, a lever connected to said member. and means connected to said lever for snapping said member taut to thereby loosen said gate.

4. A runner gate operator comprising a tension member connected to said gate, said member normally being untensioned when said gate is closed, a lei/,er connected to said member, a counterweight connected to said lever, means for holding said counterweight in an elevated position and means for releasing said first named means to permit said weight to dro'p and thereby snap said gate loose.

JOHN WILLIAM CARTER. TRUMAN H. KENNEDY. 

